High Glitz Child Beauty Pageants

I’m bringing this to you both as a style’n’fashion amateur and a mother. I’ll avoid spending an important amount of time and words on the subject because it’s so controversial and double edged I’d have to hire a lawyer before anything.

Let’s just talk aesthetics and tease a bit the morality lake: the following portraits were signed by Susan Anderson whose documentary series, High Glitz, brings a bit of light on the Child Beauty Pageants. Just to remind us all were we at. (the story continues right after the jump with more images!)

Making beauty the primary goal in a little person’s life is something so wrong and so distorted, we shouldn’t look further the fails in our society. Bringing young girls in contact with fake tan, fake teeth, fake hair, fake smiles, fake everything is far more striking and appalling than judging whether the catwalk should maintain the size zero standard or not.

And seriously, beyond anything and everything the beauty pageant mothers will ever tell us, I’m having such a hard time believing it’s not the parents who are doing all the pushing in this. What do you think? (photos via)

This make me feel sick. I wonder why this is allowed anyway. It’s is not playing with mommy’s make-up and dressing up for fun. This is only for mommy’s own pleasure. Ugh! Look at these little girls eyes? This make me nauseous. This is child abuse!!

When I see these photos and hear of these pageants I feel a mixture of nausea, anger and sadness.
This is pathetic, the little girls look ridiculous. I don’t see beauty I see a fake rather drag queen aesthetic here, and the failed dreams of the mothers placing these little girls in these pageants so they can live through them vicariously. :(

Yes some little girls like to play dress up and pretend. Some little boys do too, but this is a step too far!

I must agree with these pictures, the children here look miserable. So,why do mothers push their children into the pageants. I’m speaking as a pageant mother. If you think this is bad, should go back stage.(where makeup & everything else takes place) Some mothers need serious mental help, putting their children through this. A CHILD ONLY WINS WHEN THE JUDGES CAN TELL THAT THEY REALLY LIKE BEING THERE. It should be kept fun for the children. Not the fake teeth,makeup, tanning,etc..

well first off those pics do look horriable they r not done with professionly if they were most of them would look nice most kids love doing pageants and it teaches them alot and self worth my child competes at her own pace when your doing a photo shoot they try to get different facial expressions as they do the photos at a rapid pace so yes some look like they are all sad when in fact its just the oppsite

i started doing pageants at the age of 6 months and i am 15 almost 16 and i am still doing them. i have always loved getting my hair, nails, and makeup done for the pageants. most of the children that are a part of pageants want to be. I remember my mom telling me that the day i didnt want to do pageants anymore she would never put in one. they have given me so much confidense, and i want to do the same with my kids.

Pageants are absolutely amazing and such a great experience. I started them when I was two and I adored getting dressed up, my hair being done, my makeup being applied and getting dressed into my sparkly outfits. They teach you how to be poised, graceful, have great posture and what the judges are mainly looking for is stage presence and presentation.

I still love pageants and I’ve won in total five Grand Supreme titles, two Mini Supreme titles and lots of Queen and Princess in my division titles. I’ve also got lots of ‘Prettiest Hair’ and ‘Best Smile’ and ‘Best Eyes’ optional titles. Pageants have given me great confidence and discipline that made me into who I am today.

I agree that the kids in these pics looked unhappy even miserable. I think they are overdone and made to look way older than they actually are. My daughter is 7 and has been participating in school pageants since she was 3. It’s her choice to do them and when she decides she done then I am happy with her decision. The pageant pics of my daughter’s look way different than these. My daughter is actually smiling and was thrilled to be all dressed up infront of the camera. Too much makeup and fake eyelashes, hair and spray tans take the fun out of pageants. Let little girls look like they are supposed too..a little lipgloss and blush is enough!

Also, just to clarify I think pageants are wonderful as long as the child is happy and agrees to what she is doing. For example, my daughter does not like alot of makeup and I do her makeup accordingly to what makes her look best and what she prefers. I do not have a problem with glitzy pageants..It’s some of the parents that make the pageant world look bad. I believe too much makeup, skimpy outfits and overglamourizing young girls sheds a bad light on the entire pageant community. I have seen mothers push children too hard in the pageant world and in other sports also. Just remind young girls they are not only beautiful but also smart and give them encouragement to be theirselves!

I <3 how everyone one ha*es pageants and say the girls dress like slu*s but one of the most popular singers where one. Beyonce , and how did she turn out rich, in love, married, and pregnant! Gosh, and its not always parents I love beauty pageants with ALL my heart and I want to do them!

Yes beyonce is one example of a woman who made it into the entertainment industry that participated in pageants. Oprah Winfrey is a better example. Pageantry gives girls a platform to lots of other opportunities. Not all pageants feature girls dressing like sl$ts or looking way too old for their age. I just disagree with parents pushing their kids into things they don’t want to do whether its pageants or sports! I enjoy watching my daughter in pageants. She is happy and is participating in something that will help her throughout her entire life!

im 11 i want to do pageants so badly and so do all the girs in my class when im older ill move to america just for pageants for my child and i want to be miss ireland.
and if half the people who visit this site dont like paegeants why did you come to view it? :):):):)

There are these things called “natural pageants” too. Girls can enter without makeup, without flippers, no fake nails or eyelashes, no spray tans, and no fake hair. However, some girls love to get dolled up and look like princesses. It’s not a horrible thing when you actually know more about it and you’re not being ignorant.

My 8 year old daughter is in pageants. She first started in natural and after seeing a glitz pageant in Las Vegas, that is all she wants to do. As she puts it; it is fun to play dress up and pretend (act) I am a model! My daughter has a blast and to her trophies don’t mean a thing. For her it is the experience and fun. For me I really don’t care if she wins as long as she is having fun and meeting new friends and seeing old friends. Those that do not know about the pageant world needs to educate themselves before judging. I have pictures like those above where my daughter is not smiling and looks sad but that is what the photographer wanted! To each their own opinion! I do believe some parents need to listen to their children when they say they don’t want to do it anymore! The day my daughter says no more we will pack everything up and walk away! Nothing is more important then her having fun!

A homely looking mom is always the first to enter her daughter in a beauty pageant. Toddlers and Tiaras represents the majority of mothers and daughters that are in the pageant arena today. Moms who are overweight and struggling to pay for expensive dresses to earn a trophy and title. So many moms try and live vicariously through their children instead of hitting the gym, losing weight and working on themselves. There is a miniscule number of pageant moms who would put on a swimsuit and compete but yet put their children out there to do so and act worse than their child when the child refuses to comply. Most children want a trophy, want to play dress up but don’t want to rehearse or compete. I’ve watched this go on for a long time as a pageant judge, when your child doesn’t take home a trophy there is a reason. The judge knows whose child wants to be there and whose child doesn’t. We see the mothers who force their children to smile, walk, talk and take on the mannerisms of a robot. Do your child a favor and let their personality shine, if they express a desire to stop doing pageants listen to them because I can guarantee you we as judges see it very clearly, you’re wasting your hard earned money. Many pageant moms would be better off focusing on their own physical beauty and letting their children be children.

I was watching an episode of
Toddlers and Tiaras the other day, and it made me cry. There was a four-year-old who dressed like a Vegas Showgirl. A FOUR YEAR OLD!! Then there was a mother who had five children( but only two attended pageants.) Their names were Breanna and Ashlynn. She totally spoiled Breanne and ignored Ashlynn. Then the day of the pageant, Ashlynn finally won. Ashlynn offered Breanne everything she won, but Breanne wouldn’t accept them.

i completly disagree with what yous are saying theres nothing negative about wearing make up and a pretty dress i take part in pageants in ireland and i dont feel there is anything wrong with them on tv they make it look 10 times worse if you took part in pageants or even went to a pageant you would understand.

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Welcome to Stylefrizz! I'm Cecilia. I love all things fashion, DIY tips, and lifestyle stories. Oh! and ice-cream :-) These are my style adventures in the fashion jungle!